54 GAEL LINNAEUS. 



" Youth at school may be compared to shrubs in a 

 garden, which will sometimes, though rarely, elude 

 all the care of the gardener, but if transplanted 

 into a different soil, may become fruitful trees. 

 With this view, therefore, and no other, the bearer 

 is sent to the University, where it is possible that 

 he may meet with a climate propitious to his 

 progress." Through a friend, entrance was obtained 

 without showing the obnoxious certificate. 



Carl took lodgings at the house of Dr. Stobaeus, 

 physician to the king, who gave him access to his 

 minerals, shells, and dried plants. Delighted at 

 this, the youth at once began to make a collection 

 of his own, and glue them on paper. He longed to 

 gain access to Dr. Stobaeus's library, but how 

 should it be accomplished ? Finally a young Ger- 

 man student, to whom he taught physiology, sur- 

 reptitiously gained the books needed, and young 

 Linnaeus spent nearly the whole nights in reading. 

 The doctor's aged mother did not understand why 

 their lodger kept his light burning into the small 

 hours, and besought her son to investigate. He 

 did so, and found the crestfallen Carl reading his 

 own library books. He forgave the student, took 

 him to his own table and treated him as a son. 



Advised by Dr. Kothmann to go to Upsala for 

 better medical opportunities, he proceeded thither, 

 and here began his bitterest poverty. His father 

 could give him only eight pounds. As he was un 

 known, and without influence, he could obtain no 

 private pupil. Starvation actually stared him in 



